Activity examples on Starting Point

Activities are examples for each of the Starting Point modules. Some were created by the module authors; most were submitted by instructors using the module. Each activity is a stand-alone example demonstrating one way in which the pedagogy teaches an important economic concept. The examples range from short activities requiring only a few minutes of in-class time to activities that run over several class meetings. All include a full description with teaching notes and materials attached, recommendations for assessment of student learning, and links to related resources.

When to submit an activity

Instructors who have developed a new way to use one of the Starting Point module pedagogies are encouraged to submit an activity for posting on the Starting Point site. The innovation can be an application to an economic concept not yet covered in currently available examples, or an application that uses the pedagogy in a manner not yet described in the currently available examples.

How to submit an activity

Activites are submitted via the Activity Submission Form The form is easy to use with boxes that the author fills in for: contact information, teaching method applied, goals, teaching method, teaching notes, assessment and resources. Photos and other illustrations are encouraged as are attachments for handouts or instructions.

Activity review

The activity will be peer-reviewed by a team of economic educators who will offer suggestions for improving the activity. Once accepted, the activity will be will be formated and posted as a web page.

Suggestions

Provide all of the information a faculty member needs to successfully implement an activity

Enable faculty at a glance to determine if they want to learn more about this example

Writing for the web isn't the same as writing for print. Avoid lengthy paragraph. Put long instructions on attachments. Use bullets to highlight key points.

Don't overlook the assessment section. How can an instructor deterimine whether or not students have achieved the learning goals outlined for the activity? Consider innovative assignments or projects in addition to traditional tests.

Attach one or more photos or graphics. These will improve the page's visual impact.

If you use photos of students or examples of their work, obtain permission to do so.

Editing your activity

After an activity has been accepted and posted on Starting Point, you may choose to edit this page
through a web-based interface at any time.

Create an account

The first step to gaining access is to create an account for yourself using the same email address you provided when submitting the activity. You can create an account for yourself here:Account Creation Page If you've already created an account with SERC you can skip this step.

Visit the My Account page

The My Account page provides a gateway to all the activities you've submitted. You can get there by choosing the My Account tab if you've already logged in; or by visiting
http://serc.carleton.edu/account
at any time. You should see all the activities you've submitted with
options to view the web pages as they currently exists as well as to
edit these activities directly.

Verify your email address

The first time you work with one of your submitted activities the
system will walk you through a process to verify that you really are
the person who's email address is associated with the activity. As part
of this process (which is necessary to ensure random folks don't wander
in and modify your activity) you'll need to follow a url sent to your
email address. You need only go through this process once when you
first create your account. In subsequent visits you can simply go to
the My Account address above, log in and start editing.

Edit your activity

The editing link for each activity takes you into a web-based
editing interface which is described in more detail within the
interface itself. You can make changes and view the resulting changed
web page through this interface.

When you are finished make it publically viewable

When working in the editing interface you will be modifying a development
version of your activity which isn't visible through the public site.
The editing interface provides a button where you can request (after
you've finished a series of edits and are happy with the result) that
the page be made live so that it is visible on the public
site. A member of the SERC staff or other party responsible for that
area of the site will push the button to make that happen. You may
return at any time, make further edits to the development version of
the activity (the only version you can edit directly) and request they
be made live.